Sri Lanka bombing leaves hundreds dead

by Christopher Suarez - Campus Talk Editor

Tue, Apr 30th 2019 10:00 pm

mourning After the bombing responsible for over 250 casualties the people of Sri Lanka have been burying their loved ones and holding memorials for all those affected. The suspect is reportedly son of Sri Lankan spice trader, Mohammad Yusif Ibrahim, who has been taken into custody in connection to the bombing.

The joy of celebrating Easter Sunday was taken away by a series of horrific bombings throughout Sri Lankan churches and hotels.

After more than 25 years of endless violence from ethnic tensions beginning in 2009 Sri Lanka was finally able to experience relief. Nevertheless, this relief came to an end when terrorists attacked the Christian minority of the island country.

Being that it is a multi-ethnic country, the people of Sri Lanka practice different religions. Amongst these religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Since the country practices multiple religions, Sri Lankans, and the rest of the world, are struggling to make sense of the attacks and why anyone would target one religion. Confusion reigns in the hearts of those affected and it has been the Sri Lankan government’s mission to find who is responsible for the explosions that left over 250 people dead.

At this time, there is a terrorist group that is suspected to be responsible for the gruesome attacks. According to CNN, “National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ), a local extremist group, has been blamed for the bombings, but has not claimed the attacks. Though the terrorist group ISIS allegedly took credit for the attack, any connection between them and attacks has not been confirmed.”

Nonetheless, the hunt to strike down those responsible for this horrendous act of terror has only contributed to the havoc in Sri Lanka. In attempts to exterminate the suspected perpetrators, Sri Lankan police have further destroyed property and caused the death of many more civilians through raids.

Although they might have appeared to have occurred out of the blue, the attacks seem to have been coordinated well enough to the point where eight locations filled with Christians were blown to ruins as those inside worshipped. Easter Sunday is a day celebrated by people all over the globe, and in Sri Lanka especially, thousands of people unite to celebrate the special day.

The terrorists strategically selected churches and hotels throughout Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa, well aware of the fact that these three cities were home to a large portion of the Christian population in the country.

The terrorists cold-heartedly took the lives of innocent people who expected to celebrate a day filled with social gathering and joy. Without emotion or pity, the cruel attackers produced scenes that Sri Lankans, alongside the rest of the world, will never be able to erase from their memory.

Another article from CNN reported that the explosions “blew out the tiled roofs of churches and hotel windows, killing worshippers and hotel guests in the process.” Horrifying images and footage from the attacks show bloodied pews and walls covered in flesh from the victims that died as a result of the bombings.

It has been nearly a week since the bombings and Sri Lanka still remains in a state of emergency. It is still unclear what the terrorists’ message to the world was. Soon after the attacks, social media platforms used in the country were shut off to avoid the spread of misinformation.

This might not have been the smartest idea, being that family members will have trouble getting in contact with their loved ones. The Sri Lankan government fears that there are still more attacks to come and are working to do the best they can to keep the terrified citizens safe. From this point forward, tranquility is a feeling that Sri Lanka will not be able to experience for some time again.

Governments from other countries have intervened in the situation, including the United States. After its long war against terror, it was almost impossible for the United States to keep their backs turned to Sri Lanka in their time of need.

According to The New York Times, “the United States Embassy confirmed that agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were in Sri Lanka to assist.” Although, what does this mean for us?

The Sri Lankan Easter bombings testify that the terrorist phenomenon is still very much alive, despite extensive measures by one of the worlds largest “superpowers” to tear it down. It might be time to come up with a new approach for the war against terrorism that will make it less likely for bombings such as the one in Sri Lanka to happen again.

As global citizens, everyone all over the world is concerned about what is to follow these savage attacks. The hope is that no more lives are lost and the government of Sri Lanka is able to capture the groups and individuals responsible for targeting the minority population of Christians in the country.

In these past few days, Sri Lankans have been mourning the death of loved ones and conducting funeral services for them. Our hearts go out to the victims and families affected by the bombings. We wish that Sri Lanka finds ease in this moment of ruin and that going forward no more innocent lives are lost.